BCbythesea hears ….
A rash of car part burglaries…as recent as this morning….a reader has informed this writer that just off of A1A by Imperial Lane…this time…it was tires!…
Building A of Sea Ranch Club is the site being used for the new LBTS security camera…for entry into the Town we are told…seems we need to get them up and going ASAP…
It is said the BSO “Event” Report on the 10/25/08 near drowning incident…differs quite dramatically from the VFD account of a “water rescue” by Training Ofc. J. McIntee….HMMM…
We hear…the BSO sees his actions…quite differently…an act of “grandstanding” after the actual “water rescue”!…YIKES!…more to come on this one….especially since it seems the local press is in receipt of the report!….
This writer is quite disturbed with the non- compliance of the VFD with public information requests…and look forward to the response it is said Future’s Editor Mark Brown is asking for in a response from the Fl. Attorney General…as the paper has also been denied VFD requests…
This writer has corresponded via e-mail to the VFD…and the Town Manager/Clerk/Attorney on this issue and on questions of the VFD refusal to follow the law…in releasing such information in a timely manner….
The Town Manager….Clerk and Attorney have responded that the VFD is a private corporation and there is nothing the Town can do.
This writer responded to all above that at a commission meeting last month the 2 “hats” Vice Mayor-VFD Training Officer McIntee inquired about the VFD required public information responses…making a false accusation against this writer of “harassment” disqualifying the request…followed with a reply from the Town Attorney…that in his legal opinion the Vice Mayor’s opinion was incorrect…….
After the meeting this writer approached Chief Perkins about the request to see if he would now not be responding….Chief Perkins informed me he was waiting due to seeking advice from the Town Attorney on some portions of the request not falling under the public information criteria.
I responded I would like what was covered…and the Chief assured me it would be forthcoming…it has not been received as of this date.
After the e-mail from the Town Attorney implying there was nothing he could add to see that the request was honored…I sent Mr Abbott another e-mail…asking if he did indeed confer and advise Chief Perkins on my public information request….for if the Town is separate from the VFD…then why would the VFD Chief and the VFD Training Officer McIntee …ask for legal advice on this subject from the Town’s Attorney rather than the VFD Attorney?…
I am awaiting a response….and another follow-up request for my request from the VFD…
The Town staff on the other hand have been first rate with responding to any request…including the updated VFD “correct version” Constitution and By- Laws…the only problem…that I am awaiting a response to…the “correct version” does not have a date…for which it was enacted!…
If it is from 2004…there are several disturbing rules that were ignored…and if it is recently enacted…when?…
According some the By-Laws were not updated as of September….a request has been made for the minutes of the Oct. monthly VFD meeting…..
The “correct version” of the VFD Constitution and By-Laws will be posted later…..with or without the date…
We hear the Town Manager sees her role quite differently than it was presented during the VFD pre-contract…training period….she sees her role as only an oversight authority with anything contractual…and not with the internal matters such as disciplinary actions or who is in command….as previously posted …the 2004-16 Ordinance…allows for exactly that from the Town Manager…and until such time as this Ordinance is removed… she does indeed have not only the authority …but the duty to operate in this regard….
The Town does not have to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” …in dealing with the VFD…chapter 8-21 of the Ordinance…. offers a “composition” of how to run the department…including a separate Fire Chief…..chapter 8-22……..
Chapter 8-23…deals with suspensions….absolutely offering her a way to deal with the charges made by former Battalion Chief Pointu…pending a complete investigation…
It is the Town Manager who apparently has decided not to use the 2004-16 Ordinance…to fulfill its purpose…for the Town…
We hear the next Commission meeting will be shades of the past…Old Guard VS New Guard…with the Mayor and the Vice Mayor going after one another!….
more to come….
Tags: BSO, lbts, Local Politics, Scoops, VFD
